I've been following the status since my last post. Haven't tested any builds since my last post (like 2-3 pages back) hopping with the new release, I will test it, I've been busy and HDD are hard to come by with the stuff I've been working within the last year and had to use my last resort hard drive that I've been testing windows xp on.

News from the SP4 testing: working on an event log error related with the MSI .NET FW 3.5 T13 setup. This error is about .NET Framework 2.0 Runtime optimization service and it happens only during T13 (it's not important).

Everything seems to be working fine so far. I did get one error netcfgw.ch_ could not copy. I had to extract the file and point to the location of the said file, all went well afterwards. Thank you very much.

harkaz wrote:@ PROBLEMCHYLD When do you get the netcfgw.ch_ error? I haven't reproduced this error.

I get it during the middle of installation. I did this on a clean install, nothing but the hardware drivers was on my system. You also might want to check out the images above and investigate if you have the time. The first run crashed the whole system. The second run almost did the same but I ran chkdsk. The third run got less errors.

Looks like there may have been a communication problem, PRIOR to the DRIVERs getting installed. This is why I a tool to INSTALL the motherboard drivers and AHCI (hard drive) driver during the install of windows, so its got the newest installed, right from the start.

GH0st wrote:Looks like there may have been a communication problem, PRIOR to the DRIVERs getting installed. This is why I a tool to INSTALL the motherboard drivers and AHCI (hard drive) driver during the install of windows, so its got the newest installed, right from the start.

Just something for you to think about before you do your next install

I install all of my latest drivers before any software or updates. Its easier to track problems down this way. Like I said, all the errors go away after running chkdsk about 3-4 times. All is well and working fine, I'm hoping in the future I don't have to do this. I have many computers and I am not a newbie when it comes to doing this.

@PROBLEMCHYLD It's strange because XP SP4 always uses the official system files (no patches).
Unless the installation disk is dirty or something like that and the EXE file you downloaded is correct, there is no way that something in SP4 is broken because update.ver has verified all the checksums in some live install tests I have done - there are no broken files inside the package.

And the fact that you have to run chkdsk multiple times is not a good sign, either. Are you positive that you HDD is perfectly fine? There might be some bad sectors causing this unexpected behaviour (different file is broken every time you run chkdsk).

harkaz wrote: And the fact that you have to run chkdsk multiple times is not a good sign, either. Are you positive that you HDD is perfectly fine? There might be some bad sectors causing this unexpected behaviour (different file is broken every time you run chkdsk).

50740 kb in bad sectors. Windows reports drive clean though. This is my test bed anyway, so if it fails I'll just buy a cheap drive and continue testing. Thanks a lot for your feedback. You seem like a really cool person and you are much appreciated.

SOLUTION: You can either let Windows Update download and install the update automatically (it must not be removed afterwards) or apply a reg file I will upload very soon (double click on it while logged as admin) to satisfy Windows Update .

I'll try it hopefully tonight, also wanted to add this if there is a way to patch the 19 yr old bug thats in every version of windows from 95. n bc of how stupid microsoft dropped XP, they're not gonna make an exception for it.

I'm sure it's somewhere in plain site, but can you tell me the latest updates/patches included in SP4?
i.e. Does it include the November security updates? Does it include updates like Flash, Java or other 3rd party things?

It would be nice if I could find a way to edit System Properties to read "Service Pack 4" instead of "Service Pack 3".

@darkrats The Components Reference PDF contains all the information you need.

SP4 does not include any post-EOL hotfixes, with a few exceptions (see PDF for details). Obviously November hotfixes are not integrated. Flash is updated to May's version (13.0.0.214) as it is already included since SP3. Java, Silverlight, and third party apps are not included.

If I've already installed some of the Post-EOL updates, and then install SP4;
will I have to reinstall those updates? Should I uninstall any Post-EOL updates before installing SP4, and then reinstall them?

I have a question about the various .NET Framework versions, but will have to go through another install of SP4,
because I've forgotten exactly what I did afterwards. Getting old and forgetful.

@ darkrats: The SP4 installer will not update files that are newer than those it installs. This means that POSReady 2009 updated files should not be affected. There might be a few updates that will require reinstallation, but Windows Update will inform you about those.

Now that SP4 has reached its "Final" stage, harkaz will have a chance to put together the post-SP4 Update pack which I would hope at least one version would have all of those updates combined into a single install package to make them easier to install.

Not sure if I actually have a problem yet, but, normally when I install Office 2003 (my favorite version) it starts to give me the updates thru WU applet. I have not had any offered to me. Normally, there are MANY updates to go with it.

I have WU set to "Notify me but dont automatically DL or install them", this normally makes WU run when I reboot, thus getting me all updates needed. WU is starting, but since the OS is already updated, they offer nothing.

Not sure this is a USP4 problem or not!

Edit: To add, the problem is SP4 does not have the updates to Microsoft Update engine, as MSupdate and Windows Update, are not the same thing. Office updates come thru MSupdate

Last edited by GH0st on Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

1) Taking notice of the addtional settings in Windows Firewall, Exceptions ... is this the added "Security Enhancements" you got from Stephan Kanthak? Also the Advanced tab, ICMP options from the same guy?

if so, is there a read up on these, so I can see which apply to me and such? is there a REG file that has them all in it, so I can check them out from with in registry? ect ect

1) Taking notice of the addtional settings in Windows Firewall, Exceptions ... is this the added "Security Enhancements" you got from Stephan Kanthak? Also the Advanced tab, ICMP options from the same guy?

if so, is there a read up on these, so I can see which apply to me and such? is there a REG file that has them all in it, so I can check them out from with in registry? ect ect

Releasing some info regarding to that may have hackers exploit that location and possibly brake it to have a virus run through your system from websites if not anything else, but caution thou.

harkaz wrote:As for the update pack, it will not be installable on a live system, it will be integratable to SP4V2 MEDIA using nLite or RyanVMI.

Sounds good!! Looking forward to trying that.
Maybe this is a stupid question, but can I use nLite on "SP3 with integrated SP4" source already? Must admit I haven't tried that yet, but there's a few things I like to use nLite for (eg. chage setup screens to "classic" w2000 style).
Thanks again Harkaz!

Atari800xl wrote:Maybe this is a stupid question, but can I use nLite on "SP3 with integrated SP4" source already? Must admit I haven't tried that yet, but there's a few things I like to use nLite for (eg. chage setup screens to "classic" w2000 style)

I have now done 3 installed using USP4. Last version one time, and now twice with the USP4v2. I have used both RVM and nLite.

I like you, enjoy tweaking XP with the Classic looks and feel, much lighter, faster. Here is my exsperience and recommendations.
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I have used RVM integrator to Slipstream USP4vs directly into my XP Pro (sp0) media. Then pointed nLite at that folder and used nLite to install AHCI driver (text mode) and also a folder of Intel INF drivers (PnP/Multi) This DOES install all the drivers needed for my motherboard (than manually install vid, sound, nic after first boot)

Alot (most) of the removal options in nLite will not work correctly, cause of the changes made for the USP4. Most of the TWEAKS will NOT work either. So I recommend that you NOT use either tool (RVM/nLite) to remove or tweak as it wont work and may actually mess stuff up.

The Unattend options do work, the driver integration (like I mentioned) do work.

*** Recommendations: To use nLite to directly slipstream your version of WinXP (sp0,sp1,sp2,sp3) to USP4. Remove nothing, tweak nothing. Can install PnP/Text mode driver and you can use the Unattend options. ***

worst part, is the CLASSIC W2K style, does NOT work (Boooo) but I have found a way to tweak the default account with a reg file once you do first boot. bad thing is this doesnt carry over to the other accounts, so still not fully benefitting.

Let me explain. The Default account is the account ALL other accounts are set like. So by nLite setting the options to make it CLASSIC, Black back ground, FLAT .... blah blah bah ... to look like Windows 2000, CLASSIC SHELL. This change is made to the default account from the get go. So when the OS is installing the other accounts they will have that same CLASSIC shell look/feel/speed. Thus the ADMIN account is super light at first boot. Cause this can no long be installed prior to the accounts we do lose this favorable option. But you can still change the default account with registry settings, so when you REBOOT and the computer LOGS OUT of your user account, to the default account, it wont change to that ugly light blue screen and differant window style (non flat), what ever.... You know what I mean. Those registry keys are posted below! Save this as a reg file and it will reproduce the options/effects seen in nLite.
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